Echeveria plant named ‘AMIECH1609’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria agavoides  cultivar named ‘AMIECH1609’ which is characterized by succulent foliage with an upright attitude, tightly arranged into a compact rosette. The foliage is green to greyed-green with vivid red margins and a darker red apex; the lower leaf surface, in particular, becomes progressively suffused with a red coloration where exposed to ultraviolet light. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria agavoides.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH1609’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH1609’ is a seedling selection resulting from theself-pollination of the species, Echeveria agavoides (an unnamed plant).The crossing was made by the inventor in the autumn of 2010 at acommercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Seed from saidcross was harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings werethen grown to a mature size. In summer of 2012, one seedling wasobserved to exhibit unique foliage characteristics and growth habit. Theseedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Uponconfirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIECH1609’ was selectedfor commercialization in the summer of 2013.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIECH1609’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe spring of 2014 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH1609’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIECH1609’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIECH1609’ as a new and distinct Echeveria agavoidescultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH1609’ exhibits succulent foliage with an upright        attitude, tightly arranged into a compact rosette; and    -   2. ‘AMIECH1609’ exhibits broad ovate to near oblong foliage with        an acuminate apex; and    -   3. ‘AMIECH1609’ exhibits a green to greyed-green general        coloration of the upper leaf surface with vivid red margins and        a darker red apex; and    -   4. ‘AMIECH1609’ exhibits a green to greyed-green general        coloration of the lower leaf surface with vivid red margins and        a darker red apex; the foliage becoming progressively suffused        with a red coloration where exposed to ultraviolet light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIECH1609’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIECH1609’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the foliage color from thecenter of the rosette (juvenile foliage) to the outer most whorl of therosette (mature foliage) of ‘AMIECH1609’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH1609’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2016describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 9 months old‘AMIECH1609’ plants grown in 11 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH1609’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH1609’ and a comparison with the parentwhich is the closest known comparator, an unnamed plant of Echeveriaagavoides, is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—9.7 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 17.4 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop            time — Approximately 18 to 22 weeks to produce a marketable            plant in an 11 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria agavoides            pests and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 52 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are obovate to near            oblong.        -   Dimensions.—8.4 cm long, 3.6 cm wide, and 1.35 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Flat to slightly convex.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy; lightly            pruinose.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and moderately glossy; lightly            pruinose.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 191A, with the distal portion of the leaf            suffused with greyed-red, nearest to RHS 181A; margins are            greyed-red, RHS 181A; apex is greyed-purple, nearest to RHS            183A. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — In between            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148D, and greyed-green, in            between RHS 194A and 194B, with the distal portion of the            leaf suffused with greyed-purple, in between RHS 184A to            184B; margins are greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 184A to            184B; apex is greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183A. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            148B, and suffused with greyed-green towards the apex, in            between RHS 197A and 197B; margins are greyed-purple,            nearest to RHS 183C; apex is darker, nearest to RHS 183A.            Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 148C, and suffused with greyed-green towards the apex,            nearest to RHS 197A; where exposed to ultraviolet light or            cooler temperatures, the foliage becomes progressively            suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183C; margins            are greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 183C; apex is darker,            nearest to RHS 183A.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT AND CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH1609’ differ from the parent, anunnamed plant of Echeveria agavoides, which is also the closest knowncomparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Echeveria agavoides Characteristic ‘AMIECH1609’ (unnamed plant)Leaf attitude, outer More erect. More relaxed. whorls of the rosette.General coloration Green with red margins Green with a red apex. ofmature foliage, and apex. adaxial surface. General coloration Green withred margins and Green with a red apex. of mature foliage, apex, andheavily suffused abaxial surface. with greyed-purple.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaagavoides plant named ‘AMIECH1609’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.